NEW course presented by SEED International..

SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS
sustainable community & village development

June 14-18, 2004

back to home page

SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS is a new course especially for educators, policy developers, local governments, community-based organisations, and individuals who wish to facilitate or contribute to integrated and participatory programs for sustainable community development.

THEMES INCLUDE:

• Sustainable Community Development
• LA21 - Local Agenda 21
  
• Ecological and Human-scale Design Strategies for Urban and Suburban Neighbourhoods
  
• Facilitating Community Design Processes
  
• Design for Restoration of Natural Ecological Systems
  
• Building community partnerships
  
• Strengthening Local Economics
• Community Food Systems
  
• City Farms and Community Gardens
  
• Natural and Edible Landscaping Strategies
  
• Community-based organisation development
  
• Australian and International Case Studies of Sustainable Community Development Initiatives
  
• Tour of UN World Habitat Award-winning Ecovillage

The SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS course has been developed in response to core themes identified at the LA21 Sustainable Communities Conference (Adelaide, March 2002). Morag Gamble presented a paper at this conference and discussed these issues with many local council and community organisation representatives. It was identified that further training and exploration of successful case studies and models is essential for the ongoing development of sustainable community development initiatives and the success of the LA21 process in Australia.

VENUE:

CRYSTAL WATERS COLLEGE at the EcoCentre, Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Queensland, Australia - Recipient of 1995 UN World Habitat Award for its pioneering work in demonstrating new low impact and sustainable ways of living. Crystal Waters is located near Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland (approximately 100kms north of Brisbane). For overseas participants, the nearest airport is Brisbane International.

CRYSTAL WATERS, an ecologically designed village which is home to 220 residents, provides the perfect venue for a course of this nature - clean air, clean water, clean food, healthy buildings, energy conservation and production, active recycling, waste water management, community food systems, local economic systems, landcare and bushcare, natural forest regeneration, and wildlife habitat restoration. The EcoCentre is a new fully-equipped educational centre that has won Sustainable Building awards.

The natural surrounds provide a relaxing and inspirational environment for course partipants to focus on the exploration of the sustainable neighbourhoods theme within a sustainable setting. It also provides an opportunity to explore the connections that need to be restored between urban and rural communties.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS:

Cabin, guesthouse, B&B, camping and bunkhouse accommodation is available within the Crystal Waters Ecovillage.

All meals and refreshments are provided during the course and are included in the course fee. Experienced course caterer, Rebecca Hopkins, prepares delicious and healthy meals for course participants. Rebecca is able to cater for most special dietary requirements. Please give us advance notice of any such needs.

We actively seek GE-Free and organic produce as the main ingredients of the course meals. We source as much local food as we can to reduce our ecological footprint and support regional organic producers.

COURSE LEADERS:

MORAG GAMBLE AND EVAN RAYMOND

Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond, Directors of SEED International, work actively to help raise awareness about, understanding of and commitment to sustainability - ecological, agricultural, social, cultural and economic. They are international educators and design consultants who have worked with local government, uiversities and educational institutions, NGOs, sustainability networks, small business, women's organisations, farming co-operatives and individuals in over 12 countries. Their aim is to assist in developing appropriate strategies, skills and tools to work effectively towards ecological sustainability and positive change.

Morag and Evan have 20 years combined practical and professional experience in this field. Their key areas of expertise are: Sustainable Community Development, Integrated Ecological Education (ecoliteracy), Ecological System Design, Environmental Planning and Assessment, Sustainable Land Management, Local Economics, Permaculture, Community Food Systems and Community Gardens. Their personal commitment to environmental and social ethics, and positive sustainable change is reflected in their work and life.

Morag and Evan are also founding Directors of the Crystal Waters College, members of the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania/Asia Inc, key eco-design and environmental education advisers for the IDEP Foundation (Indonesian Development for Education of Permaculture), key advisers to the new Korean Permaculture Academy, co-founders and Qld co-ordinators of the Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network, co- founders of Permaculture Brisbane, Northey Street City Farm and many other local community initiatives working towards a sustainable future.

Morag Gamble holds a Bachelor of Environmental Planning and Design, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Environmental Planning and Design (Landscape Architecture) from the University of Melbourne, and has studied extensively at Schumacher College in England - an international centre for ecological thinking. Morag will be co-teaching an eco-design course at Schumacher College in March 2003. She has published many articles internationally.

Evan Raymond holds a Postgraduate Diploma of Geographical Information Systems from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Coastal Management from the Southern Cross University. Both Morag and Evan are currently undertaking a Master of Environmental Education (Honours).

COURSE COST

Full Fee: $795

Early bird discount: $695 if $150 deposit received 3 months in advance. Price includes all meals (we aim for mostly local, GE-Free and chemical-free food), course notes, access to extensive library of resources, internationally experienced teachers, GST.

MAKING A BOOKING

To ensure your place please send a AUD$150 deposit with the registration form. You can make a booking by mail, by email, by fax or by phone.

Earlybird Discount
If you wish to pay the full fee with your registration and we receive this 3 months prior to the commencement of the course, you will receive a $100 discount.

Payment
We accept cheque, money order and direct deposit payments.

All cheques should be made out to SEED International and be in Australian Dollars.

The balance of fees can be paid by cash, cheque or credit card on arrival.

Confirmation of booking
Once your payment or deposit has been received, confirmation will be sent with a receipt and further details about what to bring and directions to Crystal Waters.

Cancellation policies
If for some reason you cannot make it to the course, a fee of $100 will be charged to cover administration costs. The balance of your payment will be refunded to you.

If you cancel within 7 days of the course commencing, no refund can be issued.

If you notify us 21 days in advance, your deposit can be transferred to another course or workshop offered by SEED International at Crystal Waters.

If for some reason the course is cancelled, you will receive at least 21 days notice and your full payment will be refunded.

Please note, we do not take responsibility for any flight arrangements you have made. Please take out travel insurance.

REGISTRATION FORM

For more information, please contact:

SEED International
Sustainability Education and Ecological Design
50 Crystal Waters, Kilcoy Lane, Conondale, QLD 4552 Australia
info@permaculture.au.com
www.permaculture.au.com
ABN: 39 784 199 529

Directors: Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond

back to main page